It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of animals – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
